Posted by Jane Olmstead on July 14, 19100 at 14:34:00:
In Reply to: I am a Male CNA AND I ONLY MAKE 5.45 HR - and thats for 1st shift! Is This Right? posted by Call Me (CNA-JAY) Brookhave, Ms on May 16, 19100 at 13:56:18:
: I ONLY MAKE 5.45 HR - and thats for 1st shift! Is This Right? Is mississippi the lowest payed state?
: I mean when it come to CNA
: Don't know what your cost of living is like or where in Mississippi you are, but I am also from the South (Ga.) and yes, economics of the geographic area play a big part in it. For example, our facility is in Bowie, Md about 20 minutes outside of Washington, D.C. A nice two bedroom, two bath apartment will run anywhere from $800 to $1200 per month (no utilities included). There are fairly good bus and rail systems around. And the starting salary for a CNA with less than 2 years experience is $7.75/hour with $0.50/hour shift differential for EVenings or NIghts. As a Director of Nursing (and a former CNA) I know it is almost impossible to make a living in your job. As consumers we need to be dealing with our U.S. Senators and Representatives in Congress related to nursing home (MEdicare and Medicaid) reimbursement. IN 1998 with the start of PPS, we went from an average of $450.00/day for a complex patient with some rehab to a flat rate of $389/day. THat may not seem like a lot, but when you calculate out an average stay of 30 days that's $1,830.00/month. Multiply that times your average Medicare census (ours is usually 15) and that's $27,450 per month. We could increase salaries and/or hire more staff with all that! Please e-mail me back with your thoughts. I really appreciate CNAs ideas and difficulties. We are trying to make things better for everyone (staff and the residents!). Jane